Rio de Janeiro's Christ the Redeemer was lit up in the Lebanese flag on Thursday (August 6) to commemorate the victims of this week's deadly blast in Beirut.

Rio's Christ the Redeemer lit up in Lebanese flag in solidarity

Rio de Janeiro's golden beaches are shining a little brighter amid the coronavirus pandemic, as Cariocas stay away to reveal kilometres of smooth sand along the spectacular shore. Although Rio has relaxed its lockdown measures in recent weeks, residents are staying away from its famed beaches like Copacabana as a precaution.

Rio's famed beaches get breathing space as humans stay away amid pandemic

A rare elephant seal delighted Rio's swimmers and surfers on Monday (July 13), gracing the city's southern beaches close to Ipanema.

Rare elephant seal delights beachgoers near Brazil's Ipanema

Over a thousand food deliverymen on motorcycles gathered in São Paulo on Wednesday (July 01) to protest their work conditions, set by Uber and other apps, with their services in high demand due to coronavirus lockdowns.

'At the mercy of their own luck' - Brazilian app delivery drivers protest working conditions

Rio de Janeiro on Saturday reopened its stores, hairdresser's and beauty saloons after more than 100 days of shutdown to curb the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rio de Janeiro reopens all stores, saloons

Rio de Janeiro's Christ the Redeemer was lit up in traditional Corpus Christi rugs on Thursday (June 11) to mark the Catholic celebration for the Eucharist.

Rio's Christ lit up with Corpus Christi rugs for local tradition

Thrills, popcorn and face masks. This drive-in cinema in Rio de Janeiro has seen a revival amid pandemic, as Cariocas seeking respite from lockdown whilst still keeping to social distancing.

Drive-in cinema sees revival in Brazil amid pandemic

As coronavirus cases continue to rise in Brazil, some residents are determined to keep up with their workout routines even if it means a little adjustment.

Toned and trim: Brazilians prioritize exercise amid pandemic

A bittersweet image from Rio de Janeiro's iconic Guana bara Bay. With millions of Cario cas in lockdown, the city's turtles have re-emerged.

With Brazilians in lockdown, turtles come out in Rio's bays

Your Story: Abandoned pets find new home, owners find companions in Brazil. Rio De Janeiro starts pet delivery campaign. Watch this video to find out more.

Your Story: Abandoned pets find new home, owners find companions in Brazil

Resident of Rio de Janeiro's Tijuca neighborhood were treated to live music Wednesday (May 06) when members of the municipal guard band brought out their instruments for play for locals under lockdown.

'Happiness for the people' - Rio band plays tunes for residents under lockdown

Rio de Janeiro's Christ the Redeemer was lit up in green on Wednesday (April 15), to honour military personnel on the frontlines in the fight against coronavirus.

Rio's Christ the Redeemer lit up in green in tribute to military at coronavirus frontlines

While Rio de Janeiro residents abide by the quarantine orders aimed at slowing the spread of the new coronavirus, one street artist continues to deliver moments of joy to passers by.

Rio street artist delivers moments of joy

This volunteer in Rio de Janeiro is rallying round to help her elderly neighbours, stepping up to run their errands as they isolate themselves to prevent coronavirus spreading.

Brazilians step up to run errands for elderly in quarantine amidst coronavirus fears

Twelve-year-old bookworm launches favela library in Brazil

<p>At least 21 people have been killed in torrential rain that hit the Brazilian states of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, triggering flash floods and destroying homes, authorities said Tuesday.</p>

<p>Another 32 people are missing in Sao Paulo, raising fears the toll could rise further.</p>

<p>Violent storms in recent days have dumped a month's worth of rain on some areas in a matter of hours, devastating the southern coast of Sao Paulo state and poor neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro, the country's second-most populous city.</p>

<p><strong>Watch: Brazil completes Covid-19 DNA sequencing to help in developing vaccines</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/brazil-completes-covid-19-dna-sequencing-to-help-in-developing-vaccines-283912/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>At least 16 people were killed early Tuesday in Sao Paulo state after floods and landslides hit the coastal cities of Santos, Sao Vicente and Guaruja, authorities said.</p>

<p>One of the victims was a rescue worker who was killed by a landslide.</p>

<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brazil-confirms-latin-americas-first-coronavirus-case-us-reports-57-cases-282954">Brazil confirms Latin America's first coronavirus case; US reports 57 cases</a></strong></p>

<p>"I express my solidarity with those who are suffering from these heavy rains," Sao Paulo Governor Joao Doria wrote on Twitter.</p>

<p>Several highways were blocked by fallen trees and landslides, including some linking Santos, the biggest port in South America, to Sao Paulo, Brazil's largest city and economic capital.</p>

<p>In Rio de Janeiro, authorities said the death toll had risen to at least five after three days of violent rain that destroyed houses, swept away cars, and left some communities covered in water or mud.</p>

<p>The victims were electrocuted, buried in landslides or drowned, emergency officials said.</p>

<p>The disaster turned political in Rio when the city's Mayor Marcelo Crivella, a far-right evangelical Christian bishop, blamed residents for the flooding.</p>

<p>During a visit to an affected community, he complained to journalists that "people can't be throwing trash on hillsides, in storm drains and in the street."</p>

<p>In the middle of the press conference, someone pelted Crivella in the face with a mud ball which was captured in a video that went viral online.</p>

<p>"The water knocked my granddaughter and I and off the sofa. Dirty water came flooding into my kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms, everything. I lost everything," Ivone Cardoso, 65, a resident of Rio's Realengo neighbourhood, told AFP as she swept mud and water out of her house.</p>

<p>Brazil is having an especially intense rainy season this summer.</p>

<p>In January, more than 50 people were killed in Minas Gerais state, which neighbours Sao Paulo, in several days of violent rain.</p>


At least 21 people have been killed in torrential rain that hit the Brazilian states of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, triggering flash floods and destroying homes, authorities said Tuesday.

At least 21 people have been killed in torrential rain that hit the Brazilian states of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, triggering flash floods and destroying homes, authorities said Tuesday. Another 32 people are missing in Sao Paulo, raising fears the toll could rise further. Violent storms in recent days have dumped a month's worth of rain on some areas in a matter of hours, devastating the southern coast of Sao Paulo state and poor neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro, the country's second-most populous city. Watch: Brazil completes Covid-19 DNA sequencing to help in developing vaccines At least 16 people were killed early Tuesday in Sao Paulo state after floods and landslides hit the coastal cities of Santos, Sao Vicente and Guaruja, authorities said. One of the victims was a rescue worker who was killed by a landslide. Also read: Brazil confirms Latin America's first coronavirus case; US reports 57 cases "I express my solidarity with those who are suffering from these heavy rains," Sao Paulo Governor Joao Doria wrote on Twitter. Several highways were blocked by fallen trees and landslides, including some linking Santos, the biggest port in South America, to Sao Paulo, Brazil's largest city and economic capital. In Rio de Janeiro, authorities said the death toll had risen to at least five after three days of violent rain that destroyed houses, swept away cars, and left some communities covered in water or mud. The victims were electrocuted, buried in landslides or drowned, emergency officials said. The disaster turned political in Rio when the city's Mayor Marcelo Crivella, a far-right evangelical Christian bishop, blamed residents for the flooding. During a visit to an affected community, he complained to journalists that "people can't be throwing trash on hillsides, in storm drains and in the street." In the middle of the press conference, someone pelted Crivella in the face with a mud ball which was captured in a video that went viral online. "The water knocked my granddaughter and I and off the sofa. Dirty water came flooding into my kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms, everything. I lost everything," Ivone Cardoso, 65, a resident of Rio's Realengo neighbourhood, told AFP as she swept mud and water out of her house. Brazil is having an especially intense rainy season this summer. In January, more than 50 people were killed in Minas Gerais state, which neighbours Sao Paulo, in several days of violent rain.

21 dead and 32 missing as torrential rain hits Brazil

Several of Rio de Janeiro's elite samba schools paraded through the famed Sambadrome in a spectacular competition on Monday (February 24) in the hopes of winning bragging rights for this year's best display.

Rio shimmers for samba extravaganza at carnival

In Rio de Janeiro, the work goes in before the party goes on. With the world's largest carnival just ten days away, warehouses and workshops are putting the final touches in place for the city's biggest event. Floats are being painted, sequins are being glued and glitter painted onto costumes for the dazzling event that attracts millions to Rio de Janeiro's streets.

Feathers, sequins and glitter - Rio gets ready for carnival

<p>At least 10 people died in a fire inside a hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Thursday evening with rescuers desperately trying to evacuate scores of patients from the building, the fire service said.</p>

<p>The fire broke out at dusk at the Badim hospital in the north of the city, with first reports suggesting the cause was a short circuit in a generator in the oldest part of the complex.</p>

<p>"At least 10 people died," the Rio de Janeiro fire department said in a statement, without specifying whether the victims were patients or workers.</p>

<p>"About 90 patients had to be transferred to other medical units."</p>

<p>The blaze was brought under control by 8:00 pm (2300 GMT), and firefighters searched until the early hours of Friday to recover bodies from the scene.</p>

<p>During the emergency evacuation, dozens of trolly beds and stretchers were taken into the surrounding streets as ambulances struggled to get through crowds of curious onlookers to rush the most vulnerable patients to other hospitals.</p>

<p>Dense black smoke poured out of one side of the hospital, a private facility in the Tijuca neighbourhood, as doctors, nurses and volunteers ran inside to rescue patients.</p>


At least 10 people died in a fire inside a hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Thursday evening with rescuers desperately trying to evacuate scores of patients from the building, the fire service said.

At least 10 people died in a fire inside a hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Thursday evening with rescuers desperately trying to evacuate scores of patients from the building, the fire service said. The fire broke out at dusk at the Badim hospital in the north of the city, with first reports suggesting the cause was a short circuit in a generator in the oldest part of the complex. "At least 10 people died," the Rio de Janeiro fire department said in a statement, without specifying whether the victims were patients or workers. "About 90 patients had to be transferred to other medical units." The blaze was brought under control by 8:00 pm (2300 GMT), and firefighters searched until the early hours of Friday to recover bodies from the scene. During the emergency evacuation, dozens of trolly beds and stretchers were taken into the surrounding streets as ambulances struggled to get through crowds of curious onlookers to rush the most vulnerable patients to other hospitals. Dense black smoke poured out of one side of the hospital, a private facility in the Tijuca neighbourhood, as doctors, nurses and volunteers ran inside to rescue patients.

Brazil: At least 10 dead in Rio de Janeiro hospital blaze

<p>A Brazilian government minister said French first lady Brigitte Macron was "truly ugly" Thursday, only days after the country's president appeared to endorse an attack on her appearance.</p>

<p>Brazil's economy minister Paulo Guedes said he agreed with President Jair Bolsonaro's comments about Macron's looks.</p>

<p>"The president said it, it's true," he said to applause during an economic forum. "The woman is truly ugly."</p>

<p>Later, an aide said in a statement that Guedes "asks for forgiveness for the joke he made today during a public event when he mentioned the French first lady."</p>

<p>Bolsonaro garnered criticism last week when he appeared to agree with a Facebook post that implied French President Emmanuel Macron's wife was not as attractive as his own wife Michele Bolsonaro.</p>

<p>He wrote "Do not humiliate the guy, haha" on a post that read "Now you understand why Macron is persecuting Bolsonaro" next to pictures of the two first ladies.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The French president called Bolsonaro's behaviour "extraordinarily rude" and the Brazilian president later deleted his comment.</p>

<p>Brazil and France have clashed in recent weeks over the handling of fires in the Amazon, the world's largest rainforest, which is crucial for a stable global climate.</p>


A Brazilian government minister said French first lady Brigitte Macron was "truly ugly" Thursday, only days after the country's president appeared to endorse an attack on her appearance.

A Brazilian government minister said French first lady Brigitte Macron was "truly ugly" Thursday, only days after the country's president appeared to endorse an attack on her appearance. Brazil's economy minister Paulo Guedes said he agreed with President Jair Bolsonaro's comments about Macron's looks. "The president said it, it's true," he said to applause during an economic forum. "The woman is truly ugly." Later, an aide said in a statement that Guedes "asks for forgiveness for the joke he made today during a public event when he mentioned the French first lady." Bolsonaro garnered criticism last week when he appeared to agree with a Facebook post that implied French President Emmanuel Macron's wife was not as attractive as his own wife Michele Bolsonaro. He wrote "Do not humiliate the guy, haha" on a post that read "Now you understand why Macron is persecuting Bolsonaro" next to pictures of the two first ladies. The French president called Bolsonaro's behaviour "extraordinarily rude" and the Brazilian president later deleted his comment. Brazil and France have clashed in recent weeks over the handling of fires in the Amazon, the world's largest rainforest, which is crucial for a stable global climate.

French first lady is 'truly ugly,' says Brazil's economy minister Paulo Guedes

One year after Brazil's National Museum went up in flames, management and researchers say they are recuperating 35% of the collection and beginning reconstruction of the building's facade and roof.

Brazil museum rallies to rebuild 1 year after fire

Protesters from indigenous communities and Greenpeace joined locals on the streets of Rio de Janeiro on Sunday to call on Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro to protect the Amazon rainforest. Chanting "Out Salles!" (Brazilian Environment Minister Ricardo Salles), the protesters also led a prayer for the Amazon. "We have a love for the Amazon, we have a love for planet Earth, we will not remain silent in face of this policy of indifference which puts profit above human dignity and above Mother Earth," said a protester holding a loudspeaker.

'It will affect the whole planet,' says protester in Rio march as Amazon fires rage on

At least 16 people were trapped on the bus after it was commandeered by the gunman on a heavily transited bridge connecting Rio with the neighbouring city of Niteroi.

Gunman killed after bus hijack in Brazil

Brazilian journalists, artists, politicians and others gathered to show support for American editor Glenn Greenwald who has been threatened with jail time by Brazil's president.

Brazilians show support for US journalist Greenwald

<p>The International Olympic Committee on Wednesday officially took over the boxing qualification and competition for next year's Tokyo 2020 Olympics and suspended international boxing federation AIBA following a vote at its session.</p>

<p>The IOC voted unanimously to implement a recommendation of its executive board to oust troubled AIBA from the <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/videos/trash-collection-at-tokyo-2020-venue-to-mark-world-environment-day-224570&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwi2mtvTgIfjAhXEgI8KHQDJAqgQFjAFegQIAxAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw1NEjOcM2rsKgwzUbO_GHKA">Tokyo 2020 Games</a> over issues surrounding its finances and governance and suspend the body until the issues are resolved.</p>

<p>AIBA has been in turmoil over its finances and governance for years with the federation $16 million in debt and an ongoing bitter battle over the presidency that has split the body internally.</p>

<p>Serbian IOC member Nenad Lalovic, who heads an IOC task force to look into the ties with AIBA, earlier on Wednesday delivered a damning report to the IOC session, saying the association could reach a debt of as much as $29 million.</p>

<p>He also said AIBA had failed to reform at the top of the organisation.</p>

<p>AIBA president Gafur Rahimov suspended himself from the post in March because of his presence on a US&nbsp;Treasury Department sanctions list "for providing material support" to a criminal organisation. The Uzbek strongly denies the allegations.</p>

<p>Rahimov's presence on that sanctions list was extremely damaging to the IOC though he has been replaced on an interim basis by Mohamed Moustahsane.</p>

<p>"It exposes the IOC and its commercial partners to unacceptable reputational, legal and financial risks," Lalovic said.</p>

<p>He said AIBA's debt meant money would not go to sports and the athletes in the future and the organisation still faced problems with refereeing.</p>

<p><strong>START FROM SCRATCH</strong></p>

<p>Among those voting in favour of the exclusion was former AIBA President CK Wu, who was Rahimov's predecessor before stepping down in 2017 after a bitter dispute with his own executive committee.</p>

<p>"I think that today... all members of the AIBA Executive Committee will understand that we need to unite and say goodbye to the old," AIBA executive committee member Umar Kremlev said in a statement.</p>

<p>"Everyone guilty of what brought AIBA to this, must confess, apologise to the boxing community and leave. Our task, as members of the AIBA executive committee, is to unite, to accept early reforms and to start everything from scratch together to bring boxing back to a high level,"&nbsp;Kremlev said.</p>

<p>AIBA largely depends on <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/sports/tokyo-olympics-2020-winner-podiums-to-be-made-of-recycled-plastic-226233&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwi2mtvTgIfjAhXEgI8KHQDJAqgQFjAGegQIARAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw2thyF0jYe2e9UPZqjzJWLg">Olympic Games</a> revenues to survive between Games and has started letting people go as a result of its Olympic exclusion.</p>

<p>The sport's governing body will discuss the IOC decision at its executive committee meeting on Thursday.</p>

<p>Japanese IOC member Morinari Watanabe, president of the international gymnastics federation, heads the task force to organise qualifiers and the Tokyo Games competition.</p>

<p>The IOC will almost treble the number of women boxers in Tokyo to 100, up from 36 at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.</p>

<p>Men's numbers will be reduced from 250 to 186 with a total of 286 boxers remaining identical from Rio.</p>

<p>There will be four regional qualifiers - Africa, Europe, Asia/Oceania and Americas - between January and April 2020 while hosts Japan can directly qualify four men and two women.</p>

<p>A final Olympic qualifying event will probably be held in May next year to allow athletes a second chance to qualify, the IOC has said.</p>


The International Olympic Committee on Wednesday officially took over the boxing qualification and competition for next year's Tokyo 2020 Olympics and suspended international boxing federation AIBA following a vote at its session.

The International Olympic Committee on Wednesday officially took over the boxing qualification and competition for next year's Tokyo 2020 Olympics and suspended international boxing federation AIBA following a vote at its session. The IOC voted unanimously to implement a recommendation of its executive board to oust troubled AIBA from the Tokyo 2020 Games over issues surrounding its finances and governance and suspend the body until the issues are resolved. AIBA has been in turmoil over its finances and governance for years with the federation $16 million in debt and an ongoing bitter battle over the presidency that has split the body internally. Serbian IOC member Nenad Lalovic, who heads an IOC task force to look into the ties with AIBA, earlier on Wednesday delivered a damning report to the IOC session, saying the association could reach a debt of as much as $29 million. He also said AIBA had failed to reform at the top of the organisation. AIBA president Gafur Rahimov suspended himself from the post in March because of his presence on a US Treasury Department sanctions list "for providing material support" to a criminal organisation. The Uzbek strongly denies the allegations. Rahimov's presence on that sanctions list was extremely damaging to the IOC though he has been replaced on an interim basis by Mohamed Moustahsane. "It exposes the IOC and its commercial partners to unacceptable reputational, legal and financial risks," Lalovic said. He said AIBA's debt meant money would not go to sports and the athletes in the future and the organisation still faced problems with refereeing. START FROM SCRATCH Among those voting in favour of the exclusion was former AIBA President CK Wu, who was Rahimov's predecessor before stepping down in 2017 after a bitter dispute with his own executive committee. "I think that today... all members of the AIBA Executive Committee will understand that we need to unite and say goodbye to the old," AIBA executive committee member Umar Kremlev said in a statement. "Everyone guilty of what brought AIBA to this, must confess, apologise to the boxing community and leave. Our task, as members of the AIBA executive committee, is to unite, to accept early reforms and to start everything from scratch together to bring boxing back to a high level," Kremlev said. AIBA largely depends on Olympic Games revenues to survive between Games and has started letting people go as a result of its Olympic exclusion. The sport's governing body will discuss the IOC decision at its executive committee meeting on Thursday. Japanese IOC member Morinari Watanabe, president of the international gymnastics federation, heads the task force to organise qualifiers and the Tokyo Games competition. The IOC will almost treble the number of women boxers in Tokyo to 100, up from 36 at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games. Men's numbers will be reduced from 250 to 186 with a total of 286 boxers remaining identical from Rio. There will be four regional qualifiers - Africa, Europe, Asia/Oceania and Americas - between January and April 2020 while hosts Japan can directly qualify four men and two women. A final Olympic qualifying event will probably be held in May next year to allow athletes a second chance to qualify, the IOC has said.

International Olympic Committee approves exclusion of boxing body from Tokyo 2020 Games

Brazil's Neymar went to a Rio de Janeiro police station on Thursday to give a statement in a probe into whether he broke the law by posting intimate pictures of a woman who accused him of rape.

Neymar in trouble over images of woman accusing him of rape

Thousands took to the street of Rio de Janeiro on Sunday to show their support for far-right President Jair Bolsonaro.

Bolsonaro backers take to streets in Brazil

Brazil's national museum said on Tuesday that it has recovered 200 pieces from its Egypt collection after a devastating fire eight months ago.

Brazil museum recovers 200 Egypt pieces after fire

<p>The death toll from the <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/videos/brazil-sao-paulo-building-collapses-in-huge-fire-134119&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjo6aiJhs3hAhUX2o8KHXAzBTAQFggEMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw3He0d7pVSUbzGmaJE6cM-L">collapse</a> on Friday of a pair of four-story residential buildings in a militia-controlled neighbourhood of this southeastern Brazilian metropolis has reached five, authorities said.</p>

<p>Ten other people were injured and a dozen residents remained unaccounted for.</p>

<p>In addition to two people who died at the site of the collapses, a third male victim who had been pulled out of the rubble succumbed to his injuries hours later at the Unimed-Rio Hospital, the Rio de Janeiro mayor's office said.</p>

<p>Two more bodies were pulled from the rubble late Friday, while first responders were trying to extract a child they found alive.</p>

<p>Rio de Janeiro Fire Department officials said local residents had told them that more than 10 other people were buried under the wreckage of the two buildings located in Muzema, a neighbourhood on Rio's west side.</p>

<p>Authorities cordoned off the area due to the risk that other nearby residential buildings may collapse and facilitate the work of firefighters and other rescue workers.</p>

<p>The Rio mayor's office said that nearly 60 buildings in that area were built "irregularly" at locations considered at "high risk of collapse."</p>

<p>Muzema, a neighbourhood controlled by armed militias who have prevented shoddy buildings from being demolished, was one of the parts of Rio de Janeiro hardest hit by torrential rains this week that left at least 10 dead and dozens injured.</p>

<p>Area residents say the militias - criminal organizations made up of corrupt current and former police officers that control various parts of this metropolis of nearly 7 million people - seize plots of land in Muzema and build residences that they subsequently sell illegally.</p>

<p>According to the Rio de Janeiro state government, the torrential rains in recent days forced at least 1,200 people from their homes.</p>

<p>At least 2,000 people have received emergency attention in recent days due to the heavy rains, flash floods, fallen trees and mudslides</p>

<p>A state of crisis has been declared in Rio de Janeiro, the highest of the city's three-level scale.</p>


The death toll from the collapse on Friday of a pair of four-story residential buildings in a militia-controlled neighbourhood of this southeastern Brazilian metropolis has reached five, authorities said.

The death toll from the collapse on Friday of a pair of four-story residential buildings in a militia-controlled neighbourhood of this southeastern Brazilian metropolis has reached five, authorities said. Ten other people were injured and a dozen residents remained unaccounted for. In addition to two people who died at the site of the collapses, a third male victim who had been pulled out of the rubble succumbed to his injuries hours later at the Unimed-Rio Hospital, the Rio de Janeiro mayor's office said. Two more bodies were pulled from the rubble late Friday, while first responders were trying to extract a child they found alive. Rio de Janeiro Fire Department officials said local residents had told them that more than 10 other people were buried under the wreckage of the two buildings located in Muzema, a neighbourhood on Rio's west side. Authorities cordoned off the area due to the risk that other nearby residential buildings may collapse and facilitate the work of firefighters and other rescue workers. The Rio mayor's office said that nearly 60 buildings in that area were built "irregularly" at locations considered at "high risk of collapse." Muzema, a neighbourhood controlled by armed militias who have prevented shoddy buildings from being demolished, was one of the parts of Rio de Janeiro hardest hit by torrential rains this week that left at least 10 dead and dozens injured. Area residents say the militias - criminal organizations made up of corrupt current and former police officers that control various parts of this metropolis of nearly 7 million people - seize plots of land in Muzema and build residences that they subsequently sell illegally. According to the Rio de Janeiro state government, the torrential rains in recent days forced at least 1,200 people from their homes. At least 2,000 people have received emergency attention in recent days due to the heavy rains, flash floods, fallen trees and mudslides A state of crisis has been declared in Rio de Janeiro, the highest of the city's three-level scale.

Death toll in Brazil building collapses climbs to five

<p>Diego Maradona wished his fellow living legend Pele a speedy recovery Wednesday, posting a picture on Instagram of the two football greats in 1979.</p>

<p>"This picture is 40 years old today. It was taken in Rio de Janeiro, when we met each other in person. How young we were.... I wish you a very speedy recovery, King @Pele," said the Argentine great, currently the coach of Mexican second-division club Dorados.</p>

<p>The picture shows an 18-year-old Maradona, his face aglow, watching Pele, then 38, play the guitar.</p>

<p>The two players are often cited as rivals for the title of greatest footballer of all time, fueling the larger and never-ending rivalry between Brazil and Argentina.</p>

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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BwDkBQwlmvA/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading&amp;utm_campaign=embed_locale_test" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Hoy esta foto cumplió 40 años. Fue en Río de Janeiro, cuando nos conocimos personalmente. Qué jóvenes que estábamos... Te deseo una muy pronta recuperación Rey @Pele, mucha fuerza!!! ⚽️💪</a></p>

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<p>Pele, now 78, returned to his native Brazil Tuesday after being hospitalized six days in Paris for a severe urinary infection. Exiting the airport in a wheelchair, he was taken to a hospital in Sao Paulo, where he was placed under observation.</p>

<p>Pele, the only footballer to win three World Cups (1958, 1962 and 1970), has suffered from increasingly fragile health in recent years.</p>

<p>In 2014, he was hospitalized in intensive care for another urinary tract infection, for which he had to undergo dialysis.&nbsp;</p>


Diego Maradona wished his fellow living legend Pele a speedy recovery Wednesday, posting a picture on Instagram of the two football greats in 1979. "This picture is 40 years old today.

Diego Maradona wished his fellow living legend Pele a speedy recovery Wednesday, posting a picture on Instagram of the two football greats in 1979. "This picture is 40 years old today. It was taken in Rio de Janeiro, when we met each other in person. How young we were.... I wish you a very speedy recovery, King @Pele," said the Argentine great, currently the coach of Mexican second-division club Dorados. The picture shows an 18-year-old Maradona, his face aglow, watching Pele, then 38, play the guitar. The two players are often cited as rivals for the title of greatest footballer of all time, fueling the larger and never-ending rivalry between Brazil and Argentina. View this post on Instagram Hoy esta foto cumplió 40 años. Fue en Río de Janeiro, cuando nos conocimos personalmente. Qué jóvenes que estábamos... Te deseo una muy pronta recuperación Rey @Pele, mucha fuerza!!! ⚽️💪 A post shared by Diego Maradona (@maradona) on Apr 9, 2019 at 5:55pm PDT × Pele, now 78, returned to his native Brazil Tuesday after being hospitalized six days in Paris for a severe urinary infection. Exiting the airport in a wheelchair, he was taken to a hospital in Sao Paulo, where he was placed under observation. Pele, the only footballer to win three World Cups (1958, 1962 and 1970), has suffered from increasingly fragile health in recent years. In 2014, he was hospitalized in intensive care for another urinary tract infection, for which he had to undergo dialysis.

Diego Maradona posts a throwback picture with Pele, wishes him 'speedy recovery'

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